Stereotype plate casting box



Feb. 8, 1949. ER 2,461,151

STEREOTYPE PLATE CASTING BOX 1 Filed May 17, 1946 3 Shets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

Frank CH. FOStGr Wu Feb; 8, F. A. FOSTER 2,461,151

STEREOTYPE BLATE CASTING BOX Filed May 17, 1946 a Sheets-Sheet 2 i i W I INVENTOR.

- Frank cfl. Foster (H TTORN E-Y-J.

Feb. 8; 1949. p F. A. FOSTER 2,461,151

STEREOTYPE PLAT-E CASTING BOX Filed May 17, 1946 s sheets-sheet 5 Fig.5-

' INVENTOR.

FEQnR QR. Foster 54 56 (fl-Fromm Patented Feb. 8, 1949 orrlcr.

STEREOTYPEBLATE-CASTING.BOX Frank Ar. Foster; Melrose Park; IlL, assignor to The Goss. Printing- Press Company, Chicago, BL, a corporationof Illinois 7 Application May 17', 1946, S erial No. 670,482

5.: Claims.

The inventionpertains to boxes on machines forcasting'stereotllpe plates and has for its gen. eral aim the provision of such a. mechanism, ineluding. a novel and improved arrangement for holding a mat in position within the same by a vacuum.

More particularly, it is arr-object of the invention to provide such a casting box comprising a complement'al' pair of hollow shells hinged togather to open for removal of the-finished casting as well as the mat, and embodying a novel are rangement for equalizing the pressure between vacuum chambers in both of the shells constantly and irrespective of'thelrposition relative to each other. By providing for constant inter-com municat'ion between such chambers the problem of sealing, such as would be. entalledir intercommunication were established between abuttlng portions of the shells only when they are closed; is obviated; Moreover; the-dimculti es and unsightl'iness' of utilizing" flexible hoses connecting separate ones of the chambers too. vacuum pump are also obviated.

Further objects and advantages of the inventl'on will become apparent as the following do scri'ptlon proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is-a side elevation ofasterec'type plate casting machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2' is an end elevation ofthe machine shown in Fig. 1. V

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional viewtaken substantially along the line-kiln Fig. 2.

Fig. -ls an enlarged detail sectional vlew taken substantially along the line 4-4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of a fragment of the-inner face of one ofthe casting; machine shells. 1

'Whi-lethe invention is susceptible of various modifications and alter-native constructions, I have shown in the drawings and will herein describe in detail the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific dorm disclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternative constructions -falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referrlngmoreparticularly to the exemplary embodiment of the. invention illustrated in the drawings, the casting box there shown. is generall cylindrical in. shape and comprlsesza comp mcntal pair of shells in, H presentlngrespcctive semi-cylindrical mt-elder faces Ha; Ha (s 3 Theshell' Ill-is rigidly fixed to a supporting structure comprising uprights l2- rising from a base plate t3. the stationary shell H) in a manner hereinafter detailed; to swing outwardly into open position, a handle I l-being provided on the movable shell H for use in swinging it between open and closed position.

Any suitable means may be provided for lockingthe shells H), H in closed position. In the present instance a lockinglever [5' (Figs. 1 and 2)- is pivoted at l6- on the stationary shell IQ. Rigid with the lever 15 is a portion or plate I? having upon its inner face-a cam groove 18 arrangedto receive a roller l Bsothatt; as the lever E5 is swung, the movement of the roller along the cam groove forces the movable shell -I l tightly into closed position. The flat edge portions I01). I lb and me, He ofthe shells ID; H (see Fig. 3) are thus .fo-rced solidly into abutment.

Within the enclosure formed by the complemental shells 10, II isa core 20 (Fig. 3) which may be constructed and mounted in any suitable manner as, for example, detailed in my Patent No. 2 ,'100'-,003-, issued November 23, 1937. In the latter patent is shown an arrangement for rocking the core outwardly after the movable casting box shell is swung open. In the present instance, the actuating lever 21 is provided for rocking the core but its connections to the core have been omitted in the drawings in ,the'present case for the sake of simplicity and since they form no part of the'present invention. I i

In theho'rma-l' use of the casting machine here shown, amat M (Fig. 3) 'is received against the inner faces "la, l to; of the casting box shells and type n'lctal is poured into the annular space between the met and core. To hold the mat firmly and in smooth condition against the inner shell faces :llla; ifla, aplurality of small suction ports 22 (Figs. 3 and 5) is distributed substantially uniformly over such inner faces and vacuum is applied to these ports. The mat is thus sucked against the smooth inner faces of the shells, beinghe'ld taut and without wrinkling or bulging;

The ports 22- lead from the inner faces of the casting box shells to vacuum chambers 23. The shells are generally hollow in construction to define the chambers 23- and have. suitable internal webbing 24 for reinforcement purposes. It will be appreciated that all of the chambers 23 in each shell: communicate with udtable openings in the webs but are otherwise In accordance.-w1tl1rtherr nt "inventi n R179" The other shell H is hinged to each other throughvision has been made for maintaining continuously an equalization of pressure between the vacuum chambers 23 in both the stationary and movable shells l and I i. For that purpose intercommunication is established between the chambers of the two shells through a specially constructed hinge mechanism that joins them. In the illustrative embodiment such hinge mechanism comprises a pintle 25 engaged by interleaved gudgeons 2t integral with respective ones of the shells iii, H. The pintle 25 mayhavea pressed fit in the gudgeons 26 of the movable'shell H and is journaled for rotation in the gudgeons of the stationary shell I0.

The lower portion of the pintle 25 is drilled axially to form a longitudinally extending passage 21 as shown in Fig. Transversely extending passages or ports 28 open from this passage 21 into passages 2e within respective ones of the gudgeons 26. Such passages 29 lead into adjacent ones of the vacuum chambers 23 in the shells Hi, I I (see Fig. 3, as well as Fig. 4)

Special provision is made for sealing the lower gudgeon 26 on the stationary shell 10 with respect to the pintle in view of the fact that this gudgeon is journaled for turning movement on the pintle. It will be observed, in passing, that only the lowermost gudgeons on:each of the two shells are concerned in the inter-communicating passage arrangement between the vacuum chambers and accordingly similar sealing is not required for any of the other gudgeons on the shell Hi. In the present instance the sealing arrangement includes a sleeve 30 received in an enlarged portion of the bore in the lower gudgeon 26 and telescoped over'the pintle 25. Sealing gaskets Si, 32 are located at opposite ends of this sleeve and a stuffing box 33 is telescoped over the lower end of the pintle. Screws 34 secure the stufifing box to the lower gudgeon 26 and, as these screws are tightened, the stufiing box is advanced, compressing both the gaskets 3| and 32, so that these gaskets fully and effectually seal the space between the gudgeon and pintle on opposite sides of the passage '29 to prevent entrance of atmospheric air into the latter passage.

To retain communication between the lower pair of ports 28 in the pintle and the passage 29, an annular relief 35 is provided in the sleeve 30 and ports 36 are drilled in the sleeve to lead into the annular space thus defined. A connection by way of a single conduit or passage may be established from any selected point in the intercommunicating series of passages and chambers in the casting box to a suitable vacuum pump, here indicated generally at 31, and including a built-in electric drive motor. Preferably this connection is made to the passage 21 in the pintle 25 so as to equalize, both in lengthrand general resistance to passage of air, the paths to the pump from the vacuum chambers within respective ones of the shells Ii) andlli. Accordingly, a connection to the vacuumpump 31 maybe established through a conduit 38 connected to the lower end of the pintle passage 21. 7

Starting and stopping of the electric drive motor in the vacuum pump unit 31 may, if desired, be controlled automatically in. response to opening and closing of the casting box.- For that purpose, a normally open micro-switch 40 (Fig. 1) having an operating button 4| is mounted on the lower portion of the stationary shell 10'. Coacting with this switch is a lug or dog 42 fixed to the movable shell ll. .When the .latter shell is closed, the dog 42 presses in the button 4| closing 4 V the switch 40 to start the motor. Similarly, when the shell ll is swung to open position, the dog 42 leaves the button 4 l permitting the switch 40 to open and thus stop the motor.

I claim as my invention:

1. A casting box for stereotype plates comprising, in combinatioma complemental pair of hollow shells presenting generally semi-cylindrical inner faces adapted to receive a mat, each of said shells having a vacuum chamber therein from which lead suction ports opening into the inner face of the shell, a pintle having an axially extending passage therein, gudgeons rigid with respective ones of said shells and engaging said pintle to hinge said shells for opening and closing movement relative to each other, means including passages in said gudgeons for establishing pressure equalizing intercommunication between said vacuum chambers through such passages and through said passage in said pintle, and means for establishing a connection from said interconnected chambers to a vacuum pump.

2. A casting box for stereotype plates comprising, in combination, a cylindrical structure split longitudinally into a complemental pair of semicylindrical shells, each shell having a vacuum chamber within it and each ofsaid shells having suction ports therein opening into the inner face of the shell from the corresponding vacuum chamber, a pintle having an axially extending passage therein, gudgeons rigid with adjacent side edge portions of respective ones of said shells and engaging said pintle to hinge said shells for opening and closing movement relative to each other, means including passages in said gudgeons for establishing pressure equalizing intercom- ,munication between said vacuum chambers through such passages and through said passage in said pintle, and means for establishing a connection from said interconnected chambers to a vacuum pump.

3. A casting box for stereotype plates comprising, in combination, a complemental pair ofahollow shells presenting generally semi-cylindrical inner faces adapted to receive a mat, each of said shells having a vacuum chamber therein from which lead suctionports opening into the inner face of the shell, a pintle having an axially extending passage therein leading from one end ofthe same, gudgeons rigid with respective ones of said shells and engaging said pintle to hinge said shells for opening and closing movement relative to each other, one of said gudgeons being freely journaled on said pintle and the other fixed thereon, means including passages in said gudgeons for establishing pressure equalizing intercommunication between said vacuum chambers through such passages and through said passage in said pintlaameans for establishing a connection from said interconnected chambers to a vacuum pump, said one gudgeon having an enlarged bore therein, a sleeve in the latter bore telescoped over said pintle and having ports therein through which communication is established to the passage in said one gudgeorrto the passage in said pintle, sealing gaskets at-each end of said sleeve, and a stufling box for compressing said gaskets.

. 4. A casting box for stereotype plates comprising, in combination, a cylindrical structure split longitudinally into first and second semi-cylindrical shells, eachshell having a vacuumchamber within it-and each. of said shells having suction ports therein opening into the innerface oi the shell from the corresponding vacuum chamher, a pintle having an axially extending passage therein and including means for connecting the same to a vacuum pump, interfitting gudgeons rigid with adjacent side portions of respective ones of said shells and engaging said pintle to hinge said shells for opening and closing movement relative to each other, means including a port for connecting said passage through a gudgeon of said first shell to the vacuum chamber therein, one of said gudgeons on said second shell being hollowed out to form a recess in communication with the associated vacuum chamber and penetrated by said pintle, said pintle having ports formed therein to provide communication between said passage and said recess, and sealing means radially arranged about said pintle and in sealing engagement with the gudgeon on said second shell for insuring that said recess is sealed against entry of outside air even under conditions of non-sealing engagement between the opposed surfaces on adjacent gudgeons.

5. A casting box for stereotype plates comprising, in combination, a complemental pair of hollow shells presenting generally semi-cylindrical inner faces adapted to receive a mat, each of said shells having a vacuum chamber therein from which lead suction ports opening into the inner face of the shell, a pintle having an axially extending passage therein for connection to a vacuum pump, interfittinggudgeons rigid with respective ones of said shells and engaging said pintle to hinge said shells for opening and closing movement relative to each other, and means including passages in said gudgeons for establishing a pressure equalizing intercommunication between said vacuum chambers through said passages and through said passage in said pintle, and sealingmeans in at least one of said gudgeons and radially arranged about said pintle for sealing the same against entry of outside air independently of the interfitting faces on (said gudgeons.

- FRANK A. FOSTER.

REFERENCES CITED ihe following references are of record'in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

